JOINT COMMITTEE ON THE ENVIRONMENT, HERITAGE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 10 Feb 2009

Business of Joint Committee.

Chairman

Apologies have been received from Deputy James Bannon.

The first item on the agenda is the minutes. The proceedings of the meeting of 3 February 2009 have been circulated. Are they agreed? Agreed. There are no matters arising from them.

The next item is correspondence which has been circulated since the last meeting. The first item, reference No. 334, is a European Water Partnership newsletter. We will note it.

The next item, No. 335 is a newsletter from GLOBE — Net, the think tank for environmental policy. We will note it.

No. 336 is a policy research paper from the European Urban Knowledge Network. We will note it.

No. 337, from the Library and Research Unit in the House, is a paper on environmental priorities for the Swedish Presidency of the EU Council. We will note it.

No. 338 is a press release from the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government on voluntary and co-operative housing and remedial works projects. We will note it.

No. 339 is a request to make a presentation from Mr. James Doorley of the National Youth Council of Ireland regarding a campaign to lower the age of voting from 18 years to 16 years. Have members any comment on it?

Deputy Christy O’Sullivan

We have to listen. Why not?

Chairman

Shall we invite members of the council here?

Senator Paudie Coffey

I propose that we allow them to make a presentation

Chairman

Is it agreed that we will hear a presentation at a suitable time? Agreed.

The next item, No. 340, from the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government is the Waste Management (Landfill Levy) Regulations 2008. It is a departmental circular and statutory instrument No. 199. It deals with the increase in the landfill levy from €15 per tonne to €20 per tonne with effect from 1 July. It is also applicable to waste which has been disposed of at unauthorised landfill facilities.

Deputy Phil Hogan

Perhaps we could tie it in with a discussion on waste generally. The Minister has an international panel of experts examining a review of waste management strategy. There was a decision today by An Bord Pleanála to refuse a proposed incinerator in Rathcoole. In the context of where we are in terms of waste management, and to have some indication of where the international panel of experts are, could we invite some of them to come before the committee? It might be June but could we at least put it on our list?

Chairman

Who does the Deputy have in mind?

Deputy Phil Hogan

The Department and the international panel of experts, if they are free. The deliberations are to conclude by June or July.

Chairman

We will put it on the agenda and invite them to come before the committee in due course.

Deputy Phil Hogan

Perhaps during the summer recess.

Chairman

Is that agreed? Agreed.

The next item is No. 341. It is from the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Statutory Instrument No. 17 re Balbriggan Town Boundary Alteration Order. We will note it.

The next item, No. 342, from the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, is draft regional planning guidelines regulations 2009. The Whips have agreed to refer these guidelines to this committee. It has not yet been agreed in the Dáil. We are being forewarned of it. We have scheduled a meeting for Tuesday, 3 March with the Minister on draft regional planning guidelines. They have yet to be referred to the committee by the Dáil but it is expected that will happen. The Minister will be available on 3 March to attend. These are mainly in regard to regional planning guidelines and the national spatial strategy. Is it agreed that we will deal with that on 3 March at our regular meeting? Agreed.